105 – A Given

Zael watched Rafael calmly consider him—and the implication of his statement. Eventually, the Guildmaster shrugged. “Calm? Yes, I suppose I am. I see little point in panicking or rising to obvious provocation. So I choose not to.”

Zael raised an eyebrow. Choose not to? Emotions weren’t exactly something you could control. Though maybe for this man, they were.

But that hadn’t quite been what he had been getting at. He asked his question in plain terms this time. “Did you know all of that was going to happen?” The total placidity of the Guildmaster seemed to suggest something of the sort.

“I keep myself open to a great many possibilities,” Rafael said vaguely, “but I will not pretend I can see the future. Even the greatest oracles of history could not. What hope would I have?”

Zael eyed him. He wasn’t sure whether Rafael was trying to seem unflappable and all-knowing, or whether he truly did have that much foresight. His reputation did speak for itself.

Zael set all of that aside; in the end, it didn’t matter. He turned to Sari.

“Are you insane?” he asked.

The stubborn look that instantly appeared told Zael everything he needed to know, not that he was surprised.

“I only would’ve jumped in if I saw a way to help,” she said. “Even at my rank, I might’ve been able to create an opening for you.”

“Maybe at the cost of your life,” he growled.

“Trust me, I’m not trying to get myself killed.”

Zael closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Later. Not the time to have that conversation, and not least because they were being watched by Rafael.

“You didn’t need to use that scroll,” Zael told the Guildmaster. “I could have taken care of the situation myself.”

“I have no doubt you are correct, Lord Keresi,” Rafael replied. “Nevertheless, my honor demanded that I render aid.”

Zael doubted Rafael was being completely honest—if the Guildmaster had believed there was no chance of Zael losing, surely he wouldn’t have burned that scroll. Even the once Steward of Vanguard had to have a limited supply of consumables that powerful.

“What tier was it?” Zael asked. “I’ve never felt so…” Helpless was the word he wanted to use, but he trailed off, the idea of saying it aloud grating at him.

Rafael nodded and confirmed the unasked question: “A scroll given to me by Lady Vivisari. Don’t concern yourself with its value—such things are meant to be used. It served its purpose.”

Zael had suspected the explanation, but he still reeled. The idea that Rafael had burned a consumable so unbelievably valuable, a relic from another era created by the most powerful demon to ever live, for something so… mundane… pained him. He had no right to tell another person how to use what belonged to them, but he had to bite his tongue not to voice his outrage. What a waste, though.

“Now,” Rafael said. “I need to speak with the Guard Captain. I expect they’ll want to hear your recounting of events as well. After that, my attention will be fully yours.” He paused. “And though it goes without saying: thank you for your assistance.”

Zael merely grunted in response.

The incident’s wrap-up lasted half an hour. As Rafael had warned him, one of Meridian’s city guards jogged over to jot down Zael’s recounting of events, not that he had much to say. He figured the human’s rant explained the situation entirely by itself.

Zael could sympathize with how much the man had lost, but that hardly excused his actions. He wasn’t sure who ‘Lord Adventurer Barrow’ was, what his position in the Wardens had been, and what the authorities of Meridian would do with him, but Zael also didn’t care. None of this concerned him now that the threat had been dealt with.

He just wished he’d gotten a proper fight out of it.

One of the city’s mages was kind enough to cast [Tidy] on the three of them, though while that might’ve erased the bloodstains and dust smears, his uniform remained torn in places, with a particularly long slash across his torso. And a large, open hole on his shoulder. He had spare clothing stored away, but he honestly couldn’t be bothered. Maybe if he’d yet to meet Rafael, he would take the time, but Zael figured the debacle had broken the ice—no need to stand on formalities after all of that.

Once everything had been settled, Rafael led him and Sari to his office and invited them to take a seat. They did so, and Rafael situated himself behind the desk.

“Now, then,” the Guildmaster said, folding his hands on the wooden top. “I feel compelled to restate my gratitude. The situation could have turned out much worse for me if the heavens hadn’t intervened by putting you where you were, when you were, Lord Keresi.”

Zael waved his hand dismissively. “You are a friend of our house. Don’t thank me.” Doing so implied that he deserved acknowledgment. He’d done nothing worth more than a nod, and perhaps not even that. Allies defended each other. Only the slimiest, most craven of men wouldn’t have raised their weapons in that situation. “Besides,” Zael said, “you were in no real danger.” Rafael was too intelligent a man to walk around undefended when he held such a high position in human society—especially when recent events would have incited unrest in many of the members he governed.

“No real danger?” Rafael mulled over that claim. “Under normal circumstances, I can’t be perfectly protected. Artifacts, scrolls, and defensive spells can only go so far. The best level-unrestricted protections are bound by blood or have similarly stringent requirements. I have no ultimate artifact as the Royal Family does with their coronets, I can assure you of that. Scrolls and potions in abundance, but those require quaffing or activation, and I cannot match an orichalcum in speed. So ‘no’ real danger would be an exaggeration.”

“Under normal circumstances?” Sari quoted, focusing on a part of Rafael’s statements that Zael hadn’t given a second thought.

Rafael paused. He leaned back in his chair and considered her—then smiled, seeming pleased for some reason. “Sarielle Keresi. I keep myself abreast of most matters, including murmurings that don’t involve the human kingdoms directly. I’ve heard quite a lot about you by reputation.”

Sari tried not to let those words affect her, but her shoulders dropped an inch, and the interest on her face morphed into a guarded expression Zael knew well. He also tensed reflexively… until he realized, somehow before Sari, that of any demon in the world, Rafael’s calling attention to his sister’s reputation hadn’t been meant as an insult.

Which Rafael clarified a second later. “It is rare, after all, for one to be acknowledged for their wit in demon society without first having martial accomplishments to accompany it. I read your essay on a potential tax reform in Keresi territory. It was very insightful for one so young, and new to the field.”

Zael watched his sister be struck speechless. “You… read that?” She sounded equal parts horrified and, to Zael’s entertainment, flattered—if in a panicked way.

“Indeed. I was curious whether the reputation was deserved.” A friendly smile. “I came to the decision that it was.”

Zael had… mixed feelings, watching his sister’s face redden and her mouth work as she failed to find an immediate response. As always, he couldn’t approve of Rafael’s blasé disregard for Sari’s failure to raise her elevation, but at the same time, he was happy to see his sister be praised for her strengths. She had faced enough criticism for her failings; it wasn’t like more would somehow fix those problems of hers.

“Well. I—I see,” Sari stammered out. “Never mind that. I’m just wondering why you phrased it like that.” Zael took a second to realize that she’d retreated to the previous topic. “What happened out there might have been dangerous under normal circumstances, you said, given the constraints of level-unrestricted defenses… but does that mean that right now doesn’t qualify as ‘normal circumstances’ for you?”

Rafael tilted his head, a smile of a different sort playing at his lips. “I think you’ve formed a theory you’re merely looking to have confirmed, Lady Keresi,” he said with a deliberately neutral tone. “Perhaps you are scrutinizing my words too closely?”

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She faltered, then regained her confidence. She lifted her chin. “I don’t think I am. I’ll ask you straight then. Can you confirm my theory?”

Rafael leaned back in his chair and didn’t respond right away, instead considering her with slightly narrowed eyes. As the seconds ticked by, Sari’s plain intrigue melted away into slack-faced incredulity—something approaching fear, even.

“No,” she whispered. “You… she was… really?”

“I’m afraid that I cannot know with true certainty what you are speaking of, Lady Keresi,” Rafael began politely, “and even if I did, I hold the confidences of many, and will not speak blithely about secrets that are not mine alone. Let me clarify: that is neither confirmation nor denial of any theory, yours or otherwise. I hope you understand.”

Sari gawked at him.

“What in the gods’ names are you two talking about?” Zael finally asked. He looked between the two other demons. Every individual word in that exchange had made sense, but clearly they were speaking in layers, and he couldn’t decipher even the first.

“It doesn’t matter,” Sari managed. “Never mind. I shouldn’t have said anything.”

“Indeed,” Rafael said. “We are here to discuss Nysari Keresi.” For some reason, that prompted a noticeable twitch in Sari. “You asked me if I could get you two into contact with her?”

Still perplexed by his sister’s reactions and the preceding conversation, Zael studied Sari and Rafael suspiciously for a moment longer. At last, he shook his head and dismissed the whole thing. As Rafael had said, they were here for Nysari, and whatever cryptic nonsense the two were speaking about didn’t concern him. Sari had always been incomprehensible, and apparently that trait worsened when put in a room with someone similar to her.

“Yes,” Zael said. “Our cousin. Father seemed to think you could point us her way. Did she reach out at some point?”

“I have spoken with her recently, yes. And I can relay a message by the day’s end, though I can’t guarantee a response—or that she’ll come and meet you in person. From what I know, she is a busy woman.”

Zael’s brow furrowed. “I would hope my cousin would spare a moment to speak with family who traveled the continent to see her,” he said, not able to keep his incredulity from his tone. “But obviously, you have little say in what she does or doesn’t do.”

After a moment’s pause, Rafael said, “Indeed. Your father… truly gave no explanation for why he sent you here?”